From Hobby to Hustle

Welcome back to Veyve's Table!

We've talked about my love for baking and the decade-long journey to perfecting my chocolate chip cookie. Today, I want to pull back the curtain and talk about the practical, sometimes panicky, steps I took to turn Jennaveyve-the-baker into Miss Veyve's.

The Moment the Hobby Turned into a Business

For years, I was "the person who bakes." You know, the one who brings the impossible-to-resist cookies to birthday parties and the best treats to holiday gatherings. It was my way of showing love.

The shift from hobbyist to seller happened unexpectedly during a college internship at Lake Michigan Credit Union. I was working as a Graphic Design Intern, and naturally, I brought in far too many goodies. The Marketing Director there loved my cookies so much, she placed an order for two dozen!

I completely panicked. When she asked for the price, I charged her the absolute minimum, just covering the cost of materials because I hadn't figured out how to value my time or effort. She laughed, paid me over double what I had asked for, and gave me the encouragement I truly needed: "Keep selling this. Your product is worth more than the flour you put in it."

Learning to Value the Effort

That moment was a huge wake-up call. It led to occasionally selling items to friends and coworkers, but the concept of a real business still felt distant.

The game-changer came when my husband's family, agreed to sell my baked goods at their restaurant, Leeza's Cafe. I was blown away. 

This required a complete shift in thinking:

• Pricing: I had to stop selling based on guilt and start factoring in labor, packaging costs, and my time. My rule became simple: I price my goods fairly—a price I would personally be happy to pay for this level of quality.

• Branding: I upgraded from saran-wrapped treats to sealed cookie bags stamped with the official Miss Veyve's logo. Seeing that logo on a finished product is still a moment of great pride and progress!

Balancing the Batches

Since I still happily work my full-time job outside of the bakery, Miss Veyve's currently operates on the weekends. This schedule is a tribute to the trust I have with my community and the trust they have in my commitment to quality.

I am incredibly grateful that my micro-bakery has grown through word-of-mouth and the generous support of my extended family. You can now find Miss Veyve's baked goods at two wonderful family establishments in Farmington Hills, Michigan:

1. Leeza's Cafe

2. Sunny's Cafe 

It is such a rewarding feeling to see that progress, from a low-priced internship order to having my baked goods trusted in multiple family-owned businesses. It's proof that with good intentions, genuine effort, and a little push from those who believe in you, a side hustle can truly take off.

If you’ve ever started a side business, what was the biggest moment that made you realize your hobby was becoming a real venture? Share your story in the comments!